The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-05


buildings Every Yankee rejoices in the Boston
dome 81 it's brilliant golden yellow-prince of
colors-blazes out over its western mountains,
or elares over it's rolling eastern sea.
IA far as yet heard from, the taxpayers and
citizens of Indiana are unanimously in favor of
gliding the balance of the dome, even at a cost
of $12 900, so that their native State shall have
the largest and noblest golden dome in America.
When so gilded, it will be beacon of beauty
for all the surrounding region, and may be seen
on eminencies and incoming trains, from all the
surrounding counties
The piers OF the dome were intended to be and
are as strong if cut from solid rock. The
fitting of the masonry is unrivaled in stone and
brick Engineers from France and England
declare the masonry superior in accuracy to the
famous Liverpool docks. 1t is octagona in its
interior and inches and panels are left at the
angles for statues and inscriptions.
At the transept the Quaker gray color of the
rocks is signalized by eight huge columns of red
granite from Maine The lantern is surmounted
by an iron flagstaff % feet long to its gilded ball.
IA inches in diameter, though it looks no larger
United States flag, 2Sx16 feet. will be unfurled
from this staff at 9 A. NJ, Jan. 6. when the Leg
islative halls will be turned over to the present
Assembly for occupancy.
The principal corridors, halls and chambers
are wainscoted in granite and marble; the floors
are of Italian marble and encaustlc tile. from
the United States encaustic tile works of this
city. The Offices of the Governor, Lieutenant
what gaudily ornamented; the Senate chamber,
House of Representatives and Supreme Court
room are frescoed without glazing color-almost
subdued Quaker tints, and contrasting strongly
with the high color and tinsel-ware of the rooms
of the county courthouse The commissioners
pride themselves the absence of gaudy or
inartistic colors or designs which should offend
the most fastidious taste. The seats and
drapery of the windows are modest-Jefferso-
MAN simplicity only calling for window curtains
and hangings for the Senate cham Der costing
So 20 each. The Senate and House are furnished
in mohogony. while the CRATES. two in each
room, are noby done in Italian marble, Dor
dered with the red and gray marbles of Ver-
mont Every effort has been made by fretsing
plain surfaces, by broken lines and furnishing
to render the acoustic properties perfect Good
acoustics are always desired but rarely attained.
So far as tested in an empty hall good results
have been attained.
The Washington street front is attractive but
was found not to give good exhibit of the size
and character of the building. 1t is not in keep
ing with the dignity and harmony of the whole.
Market street was known to be one of the long
est streets free from distractions to the view in
the city; hence to attain the finest view, the
portlco and facade was enlarged so that it should
be as wide as the curb stone lines of the street.
and the buttresses reach nearly to the wall lines
of the street, making this front harmonious and
in symmetry with the dome.
The grounds too small for the Capitol
they are cramped, notably at the east and west
from Tennessee street as possible. Even now
the space is narrow, contracted, and no way in
keeping with the magnitude of the State-house.
That tho building may be seen, and
the people, the State should purchase
| the two half-sQuares fronting west on Tennessee
| street. which can be secured condemned at a
| moderate price, making a suitable plaza and
| approach where people who wish to admire the
| State-house may gather they do in the parks
of the city and enjoy social and patriotic pleas.
| ures at the same time.
| The building of the new State-house is nov
| city in public affairs. It has been built within
the estimate. Other States may do as well; no
| others have. The first board appointed by Gov
| Williams were Hon. I. D. G. Nelson. Of
Fort Wayne; Mr. VIM. r. McKeen, of
Terre Haute, and Generals T. A. Nor
ris and John Love, of Indianapolis
Each successive Governor has been ex oficio
| president Of the board-Governor Porter, and
now Governor Gray. Upon the resignation of
Mr. MeKeen, in 1873, Dr.. John Coliet was ap.
pointed his successor, filing the Office until
commissioned, in 1879. as chief of the Bureau of
| Statistics, when VIM B. Seward, of Blooming
ton, was appointed. Henry Mursinna is also
one of the present board. The board was Or
ganizei May "a, 1877. The plan of Mr. May was
selected Oct "a, 1878. MIR. Adolph Scherrer
was for many years Mr. Mays assistant, afd
did much work the plans with Mr.. May, AMI
continued the supervision to the present tins.
| Mr.. Scherrer drew all the plans and elevations,
| some sixty or seventy in number, upon which
the contractors made their estimates. and by
which they have been and are now guided
| even to the minutest details. He has also been
| the architect of all the numerous changes made
and has discharged his duties with skill and
ability. Capt. Godown is the secretary of the
| board.
Actual work began Oct. H. and has gone or
almost continuously to the present time. The
cornerstone was laid In September. 1880, and
the last stone set on the dome July 3. 1886. The
entire work OF finishing and grading will be
completed by September OF the present year. al
the close of the building season. The tota
amount paid out to date is ST. 691 $40; the cost
when finished, is put at 81, 9S8 $685. 1t is expect
ed that the present Legislature will appropriate
about $3.50 900 to carry on the work and pay con
tracts already due.
1t may be stated, by way of comparison, tina
the Iowa State house has cost nearly three mill
ions of dollars. the estimate being one-half tina
amount; the Illinois Statehouse, four millions
or double the estimate, while the Albany State
house has cost seventeen millions. and is il
shape to spend eight millions more.
1t is not the design of this article, in givin
the details of the buildings lmpressiveness an
excellencies, to claim for it perfection. 1t is
like all other great works, subject to criticism il
defects that may appear hereafter.